Coin controlled vending apparatus



New. 1, 1932. I F, BRANlcA Y 1,885,797

COIN COETROLLED VENDING APPARATUS Filed June 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l A .3701 v R JIIIorngy a Nov. 1, 1932. F BRANICA COIN CONTROLLED VENDINGAPPARATUS Filed Juh 5, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV 1, B Njc COINCONTROLLED VENDING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.Zwoenlar K; v @rfixwa 'a Bwmra Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATESFOR-TUNATO BRANICA, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK COIN CONTROLLED VENDINGAPPARATUS Application filed June 3, 1931. Serial No. 5413310.

This invention relates to vending apparatus wherein the operation ofmeans to deliver merchandise from the apparatus is controlled by thedepositing of a coin in a C0111 chute,

and it is the primary object of the invention to provide an improvedvending apparatus of this character which is novel and cheap 111structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter wherein the merchandise delivery means is in simulation of adredging machine arranged in a casing having a transparent Wall portionwhereby the operation of the delivery means and the delivery of themerchandise may be observed.

Another object of the invention relates to improved means for actuatingthedelivery means including a rotatable actuating shaft normallyuncoupled from the delivery means and adapted to be coupled therewith bythe depositing of a coin in a coin chute, and to improved means formaintaining the operative connection between said shaft and the deliverymeans and the breaking of said connection upon a predetermined number ofrevolutions of the shaft.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for normallyuncoupling the actuating shaft from the delivery means and adapted tocouple said shaft with the delivery means by means coupled with andac'-' tuated by the shaft by a coin upon a coin seat in a coin chute,and said latter means adapted to actuate mechanism to effect coupling ofthe actuating shaft with the delivery means, and means operative upon acomplete cycle of operations of the delivery means to uncouple the shaftfrom the delivery means.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of an auxiliarysupport for a coin deposited in the-coin chute during the operation ofthe delivery means and adapted to be actuated from the delivery means torelease and permit the coin supported thereby to drop to the coin seatin-position for coupling of the actuating shaft with the means to effectoperation of the means to couple the o shaft with the delivery means.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear- Infthe drawingsaccompanying and forminga part of this application, Figure l is alongitudinal sectional view of a vendingapparat us illustrating anembodiment of my 7 invention,the section being takenon the line l1 ofFigure 2 looking in the direction ofthe arrows. I a a v v Figure 2 is afront elevation. Figure 3 is a view looking at the top of the casing. vf .7 I

Figuree isa' cross sectional view taken on the line 44: of Figure 2looking in'the direction of the arrows. l r Figure 5 is a detail viewofmeans associated with the delivery means for effecting uncoupling ofsaid means from its actuating shaft 1 Figure 6 is a view taken on theline 6-6 of Figure 5 looking in the direction'of the arrows, and showingthe means for uncoupling the actuating shaft from the delivery means.Figure 7 is a detail view, in front elevation and partly in section, ofthe actuating shaft showing the operating means between said shaft andthe delivery means and the means associated with the delivery means forn11- coupling the shaft therefrom. I

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View of the'coin' chute and havingassociated there: with coin controlled meansfor efi'ecting actuation; ofthe means to couple the actuating shaftwith the delivery means, thesection being taken on the line 8-8 of'Figure 9 looking in thedirectionof thearrows. p

Figure9 is a front elevation of the means for coupling the actuatingshaftwith the de'- livery means and the coincontrolled means in relationto the chute for effecting actuae tion of the means to couple theshaftwith the delivery means.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the mechanism shown in Figure 9. V I,1

Figure 11 is a perspective-view of the mounting means for the mechanismshown in Fi ures 9 and 10. Figures Y12 and 13 are perspective views ofparts of the coin controlled means for effecting coupling of theactuating shaftwith ward of the partition 15 to constitute the 1 thedelivery means; and v Figure 141s a detall sectlonal View of the casingto show the arrangement of a merchandise compartment therein withdelivery outlet means leading therefrom and a compartment incommunication with and for supplying merchandise to the firstcompartment. a

In carrying out the embodiment of the in- .vention illustrated thereisprovideda casing or cabinet substantially of rectangular shapeprovided with a' merchandise supply comrpartment A and a merchandisedelivery com partment B, the compartment A being formed by a partition15 extending" between the sides-and from the top to adjacent the bottomof the casingan'd'having thebottoin 16 arranged in an arcof a circlewiththe ends terminating at the sides of thecasi ng, as at 17 inFiguresl and 2, and extended forbottom of the compartment B, saidlattercompartment being a formed by the partition 15' and a plate 18preferably of transparent material. 'The compartmentA is connected withthe compartment B throughan arched opening 19 '(Figure 2) whereby themerchandise, in the present instance candy, moves .by gravity throughsaid opening from; the compartment A to the compartment B due to.the-circular arrangement of the bottom.

The merchandise delivered from the compartment B through outlet means inthe 'forni of a chute 20 having a hopperinlet'2l' centrally of andabove, the merchandise level in said compartment, the chute 20 beingdirected laterally of the hopper inlet and leading to a bottom 22 of acompartment C in-. clining downward from the-rear to the front a andbottom of thecasing adjacent to an inlet 23 to said compartment andthrough which the delivered merchandise is received,

v the top of said compartment being closed by the bottom 16forxcompartments' A, B and v a plate 24 extending between the'cas ingsides and the front wall 18 of compartmentBand 7 front wall of thecasing, said plate also serv-' mg asfthe support upon wh1ch the delivery7 mechanism is mounted. The front wallof the r easing hasacircularopening therein closed by'a plate of transparent material, suchas glass, as shown at'25, through which to ob ing machine and comprisesa scoop in the form of a cup member 28-secured at thebot tom to one armof an angle member '29 se-" 7 cured'by the other arm in a block 30mounted serve the operation of the delivery means, the

lowerpo'rti'on'ofsaid plate being rendered.

opaque, as by painting or otherwise,-as shown at 26 in Figure 2, toobscurefrom' view the plate 24 and the mounting means forthe' deliverymechanism.

The merchandise "delivery or dispensing mechanism is constructedtosimulate a dredgintermediate the ends upon the end of a shaft 31 andserving as a counterweight for the scoop The shaft is rotatablysupported in legs 32 of a U-shape bracket secured upon a plate 33(Figure 11) secured upon the plate 24. A Worm wheel 34 fixed onsaid-shaft meshes with a worm 35 on a shaft 36, herein termed as theactuating shaft, mounted to rotate on an axis transverse to the shaft 31in brackets 37 fixed upon and extending upward from theplate 33. Theworm 3571s loose 'on'the shaft and has diametrically opposite recessesin one endto arrange the same as a clutch member, and is connected withthe shaft to rotate therewith by a clutch member 38 ,in'the form of asleeve slidably mounted on the shaft 36 juxtaposed to the worm andadapted to rotate with the shaft by a pin fixed 1n and the oppositeendsextei'id ng from the shaft engaging diametrically opposite slots in thesleeve as at 89 in Figure 7. The end of the sleeveopposite the worm'isprovided with diametrically opposite projections to serve as clutchingaws adapted to engage,

the wormrec'esses to couple the worm through the sleeve to theshaft, thesleeve being urged toward the Worm by a springd-O coiled about a collar41. onthe shaft.

The shaft'36 is extended to. ad acent aside wall of the casing andhas abearing support 1n a sleeve hub 42 of a crank L3 rotatably mounted in abearingmemberin the casing wall, as at 44. Tlie{cra11 l; is adapted tobe connected with and rotate the shaft when rotated in one direction, in"the presentinstance in clockwisedirectlon, and to he d1s connected fromand so rotated free of the a i tt 1=-- u l sna w ien r0 a ec in reopposite neetion.

For this purpose the i nner end; of ,the cra'n it sleeveis arrangedwith'clutch jaws end a;-

the shaft and confined between the sleeve and cluteh member, inthe formof a ssleeve 451s. mounted on the shaft LillXttPOSQCl'tOtllQ cranksleeve and havin jaws at oneend to co-operate with the clutchaws of thecrank sleeve,

hold the shaft against rotation in anti-clockwise d1rect1on and permitof rotation of the shaft in clockwise direction a yielding detent. orpawl 48co-operateswith a ratchetwheel 49 fixed to the shaft 86. l

The ratio of the worm gearing is such as to impart one revolution to thescoop-carrying shaft 31 andrcvolve'the' scoop 28 through a completecircle by a predetermined number of revolutions of the, actuating shaft36, the

scoop during this movement being dippec into the compartmentB to befilled with the merchandise and during its travel above the shaft 31delivering the merchandise into the hopper inlet of the delivery chute20. To bring the scoop to rest after the delivery of the merchandisetherefrom means are provided to automatically actuate the clutch member38 to unclutching position and thereby release the scoop from theactuating shaft 36 and releasably retain the clutch member in saidposition. This means comprises a finger mounted on the hub of worm wheel3% to rotate with the shaft 31 and have a limited oscillatory movementabout the shaft by a pin fixed in and extended from the side of the wormwheel engaging either of the end walls of a peripheral recess in the hubportion of the fin 'er, as shown at 51. The finger rotates with the wormwheel in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figures 6, 7 and 9,and the finger is urged to the extremity of one of its oscillatorymovements in said direction by a spring 52 attached at one end to thefinger and at the opposite end to the hub of the worm wheel. As the wormwheel carrying shaft 31 is rotated the finger will engage with anannular flange 38 on the clutch member 38 arresting the movement of thefinger and permitting of rotation of the shaft 31 due to the springconnection of the finger with the shaft and the finger in conjunctionwith the resistance of the spring forcing the clutch member 38 tounclutching position, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, and releasing theactuating shaft from the scoop carrying shaft.

The connection of the actuating shaft with the scoop is controlled by acoin c deposited in a coin chute 53 leading to a portion 5a of channelshape in cross section, the chute leading from a coin insert in a block55 mounted on the interior of the casing and extended through an openingin the top of the casing the coin insert consisting of a bore 56 throuthe block having a recess 57 extended late ally therefrom, a plate 58closing one end of the bore and arranging the. recess 57 as acontinuation of the chute 53. A coin deposited in the chute strikes aplate 59 carried by a stud shaft 60 extended transversely of androtatably supported in the opposite legs of the chute portion FA and theplate yieldingly urged in direction toward the legconneeting portion ofsaid channel portion of the chute by a spring 61 attached at one end tothe chute and at the opposite end to an arm 62 secured to the platecarrying shaft. As the coin'strikes said plate it is directed to engagea ledge or seat 63 an d retained thereon by a second bifurcated plate 6%carried by. a shaft 65 extending transversely of and la tatablysupported in the chute 54; and normally positioned adjacent the wali ofthe chute and the coin seat, as shown in full ii in Figure 8, and servesto retain the coin on said seat. The coin serves to couple the tuatingshaft 36 with the plate 6% by a; finger 66 on the actuating shaft as itis rotated pass in through a slot 66 inthe wall of the chute 54 andengaging the coin on the coin seat, the continued rotation of the shaftimpinging the finger and coin against the plate 64 cou--. pling theplate to the shaft and moving it to the dotted line position shown inFigure 8. This movement of the plate effects further releasing movementof the clutch member 38 and permitting the shifter finger 50 to be movedout. of engagement with the clutch fiange 38 by its spring 52, and theclutch to be moved into clutching relation with the worm 35 byth-espring 10. This means comprises an arm 67 pivotally supported at one7 end by a bracket 68 mounted on the plate 33 to extend upwardly fromsaid plate and have n'iovement in the plane of the actuating'shaft, thearm being of arcuate shape in longitudn nal section and engaging theclutch flange 38, as shown in Figure 9. A lever 69 is piv:

otally supporter intermediate its endin' the bifurcation of a post 70fixed to and extend ed upward from the plate 33, the one end of thelever, as at 71, being reduced in thickness and engaging in abifurcation 67 in the free end of the arm 67, the shoulders at oppositesides of and-formed by the reduced N310}; being arranged as cam faces toengage the arm 67 at opposite sides of the bifurcation. As the plate641s actuated. and moved to the dotted line position by the finger 66onthe actuating shaft by the interposing of a coin between said fin 'erand the )late an arm 72 fixed tothe plate carrying shaft 65 extendedforwardl therefrom at a r1 'ht an 'le to the I y p n D plate and overthe end OI the lever 69 opposite to its connect on with the arm 67 ismoved from the full line position to the dotted line position shown inFigure 8, thereby rockmg the lever and GlfGC'tlIl movement of the arm 67to move the clutch flange 38 out of engagement with and releasing theshifter finger 50, said finger moving from the dotted line position. tothe full line position shown in higure 9. As soon as the shifter fingeris released from the clutchfiange the tension of the clutch actuatingspring 40 acting through the clutch member on the arm 67 will move thelever 69 tothe full line position shown in Figure 8 and the coinarresting plate 64 relative to the coin seat 63. By the continuedrotation. of the actuating shaft 36 the finger 66 will ride off from thecoin impinged against the plate G l releasing the coin, which will dropinto a compartment 1) in the bot-tom of the casing formed by the bottomof the partitions A, B and the supporting plate 24i-and a transversepartition extending transversely from the front to the rear iii) of thecasing,"as indicated by dotted lines 73 a from passing through theeoinchute when the a coin arrestingplate 64 is in, the dotted line hingedlysupported closure 82 secured in Y closed posit on by a pair of hasps 83extendposition shown in FigureS and during the delivery movement of thescoop, the plate 59 is moved from the full line position to the dottedline position shown in. Figure 8 through the action of the spring6l,said plate in normal position with the parts idle being moved to andretained in the full line posi- 131011 by a rod 74 secured atone end 1nthe eX- I tended end of the plate carrying shaft 60 and'extcndingdownward therefrom adjacent to the scoop carrying shaft '31 and shapedat 1 said end to constitute a cam engaging an abutment 7 5 carried byand extended later ally from a collar 76 secured on sai'd shaft. As theshaft 3]. is rotated the abutment is moved out of engagement with thecam portion of and releases said rod permi tlng the spring 61 to movethe plate tothe dotted ment of the clutch to clutching positionact-f ingthrough the arm 67 on the lever 69.

For the purpose of getting access to the casing the rear wall 7 7-ishlngedly mounted,

as at 78, and. is provided with a hasp 79 of an 'le form having aperforation for the passage of a staple 80 for the engagement of theshackle ofa padlock 81. To supply mercnan disc to the compartment Athere is provided an opening in the top of the casing having a ingtransversely, of the closure from substantially midway to opposite sidesthereof and to beyond the sides and having perforations for the passageof staples for the engagement of theshackle of padlocks 84L.

c It will be, obvious that various modifications may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of parts, and that portions of the'in-'vention may be used without others, and come within the scope of theinvention. 7

Having thus described my invention, I

claim i 1. 1n coin' controlled vending apparatus,

a rotatable actuating shaft, merchandise dis,-

pensin means including a rotatable shaft,

a member loose on theactuating shaft hav-c ing a driving connection withthe shaftfof the dispensing means and arranged; as a clutch, member, aclutch member rotatable wi h and slidable on the actuating shaft normally urged-to clutching position, a clutch shifter rotatable with andoperative upon a each revolution of the shaft of the dispensing meansto'm'ove the clutch member on the actuating shaftto and releasablyretain it in 1111- clutching position, and means normally' uncoupledfrom and adapted to be coupled with the actuating shaft by a coin andro-' tation of said shaft to release the shifter from the clutch memberand permit the clutch member to move to clutching position and connect.the actuating shaft with and actuate the shaft of the dispensing means;

2. In coin controlled vending apparatus, a rotatable actuating shaft, asecond rotatable shaft, merchandise dispensing means carried by saidlatter shaft and moved through a cir-" cular path by the-rotation of theshaft, a worm wheel on said second shaft, a worm loose on the actuatingshaft meshing with the vorm wheel, means on the actuating shaft tocouple the worm with the actuating shaft,

means rotatable withthe dispensing means;

carrying shaft operative upon each revolution of said shaft to actuatethe coupling means to disconnect the worm from the actu atingshaft andreleasably retain it in said po-' 1 sition and means normally uncoupledfrom and adapted to be coupled with the actuating shaft by a coin uponrotation of the shaft to release the disconnecting means from andpermitthe coupling means to connectthe actuating shaft with the v worm.

3. In coin controlled vending apparatus,

a rotatable shaft, revoluble merchandise dispensmg means having anoperative connection with the shaft and normally uncoupled therefrom,means normally urged to position to couple the shaft with the dispensingmeans.

means rotatable with and about the axis of the dispensing meansoperative upon each revolution of said means'to actuate thecouplingmeans to uncoupling position to CllSQOl'lfl nect the dispens ng meanstrom thefshaftand releasablyi retain it in said position, and meansadapted to be coupled with and 019-, erative from the shaft by adeposited coin to release the coupling actuating meansfronm and'permitof movement of the coupling means to coupling position] 7 4. Lin coincontrolled vending apparrevoluble' merchandise dispensin meal arotatable sh aft, means to 'operatively connect and actuate thedispensingmeans from the shaft, means to couple said actuating means forthe dispensing meanswith and uncouple the same from the shaft,means'rotatable with the dispensing means operative upon each revolutionthereof to actuate the coupling means to and retain it in uncouplingposition, and means normally uncoupled from the shaft and adapted tobecoupled' with the shaft by a coin upon rotation of the shaft torelease the coupling actuating means from and permit the coupling meansto. move to coupling position to connect the actuating shaft with thedispensing means.

5. 111 coin controlled vending apparatus; a rotatable shaft, an armfixed to the shaft carrying and movlng the'merchandise dispensing meansthrough a circular path by the rotation of the shaft, an actuatingshaft, means to actuate the dispensing means carrying shaft from theactuating shaft, means to releasably couple said actuating means withthe actuating shaft and normally urged to coupli g position, meansrotatable with and operative upon each revolution of the dispensingmeans shaft to release said coupling means from the actuating means forthe dispensing means carrying shaft and releasably retain it in saidposition, and means adapted to be coupled by a coin with and operativeby the rotation of the actuating shaft to release the coupling meansfrom its releasing means and couple the actuating shaft with theactuating means for the dispensing means carrying shaft.

6. Acoin controlled vending apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein thedispensing means shaft actuating means and the means to couple the samewith the actuating shaft comprises a worm wheel fixed to the dispensinmeans shaft, a worm loose on the actuating shaft arranged as a clutchmember, and a clutch member rotatable with and slidable on the actuatingshaft and normally urged int-o clutching relation with the worm.

'Z. In a coin controlled vending apparatus, a merchandise carryingcasing having a coin chute, a rotatable shaft, an arm fixed to the shaftcarrying and moving merchandise dispensing means through a circular pathby the rotation of the shaft, an actuating shaft, a worm wheel on thefirst shaft, a worm loose on the actuating shaft meshing with the wormwheel and arranged as a clutch member, a clutch member rotatable withand slidable on the actuating shaft normally urged into clutchingrelation with the clutch member on the worm, a clutch shifter rotatablewith and operative upon each revolution of the first shaft to actuatethe clutch member out of clutching relation with the clutch member onthe worm and releasably retain the clutch member in said position, andmeans operative from the actuating shaft and adapted to be coupledtherewith by a coin deposited in the coin chute to actuate the clutchmember to release the clutch shifter from and permit the clutch memberto move into clutching relation with the clutch member on the worm.

8. A coin controlled vending apparatus as claimed in claim 7, whereinthe clutch shifter rotatable with and operative upon each revolution ofthe dispensing means carrying shaft to actuate the clutch member out ofclutching position with the worm, comprises a finger mounted on saidshaft to rotate therewith and have a limited oscillatory movement aboutthe shaft, and a spring to normally urge the finger to one of itsextreme oscillatory positions,said finger being adapted to engage anannular flan ge on the clutch member and thereby held against movementwith the shaft against the tension of the spring and in conjunction withthe spring move the clutch member to and releasably retain it inuncoupling position.

9. A coin controlled vending apparatus as claimed in claim 7, whereinthe means operative from the actuating shaft and adapted to be coupledtherewith by a coin to actuate the clutch member and release the'clutchshifter therefrom to permit the clutching member to be moved intoclutching relation -with the worm, eomprises a cam arm pivotally mountedat one end and engaging an v annular flange on the clutch member andhaving a bifurcation in the free end,a pivoted lever having one endreduced and extended vthrough the arm bifurcation and the shoulders atopposite sides of the reduced portion arranged as cam faces toengage thearm, a rock shaft extended transversely of the coin chute, a plate fixedto said shaft to have movement relative to a coin seat on the Wall ofthe chute, an arm fixed to said rock shaft extending at an angle to theplate to position over the end of alever opposite to its connection withthe cam arm, and said lever being positioned by the clutch member whenmoved to clutching position to position the plate adjacent the chutewall and coin seat, and a finger onthe actuating shaft adapted by theactuation of the shaft to have movement through an openingin thechutewall to engage a. com on the coin seat relative to the plate and throughthe impingement thereof on the coin by the rotation of the:

releasably retain it in said position, a coin seat in the chute, apivoted plate movable toward and away from the com seat and normallypositioned relative to the coin seat, a

finger on the actuating shaft adapted by slot in the chute wall relativeto the coin seat and through the coin move the plate away from the seat,and means actuated by said movement of'the plate to release the clutchshifter from and permit the clutch mechanism to move to clutchingposition and connect the dispensing means with the shaft.

said rotation of the shaft to pass through a 11. In a coin controlledvending apparatus as claimed in claim 10, a second plate pivotalr "itsupported. in the coin "chute yieldingly urged into engagement with thechute wall, and vadapted to receive and support acoin deposited in thechute during the connection of the dispensing means with the shaft, andmeans connected to and rotatable with the support of. the dispensingmeans opera- ,tive to move said second plate to release and permit thecoin supportedthereby to d o to the coin seat.

.12. In a coincontrolled Vending apparatus as claimed inclaim' 10, asecond plate pivotal- -1y supportedin the chute, a spring urging saidplate into engagement With a chute wall .to receive and support a coindeposited in the chute during the actuation of the dispensing means withthe shaft, a cam arm secured to the pivotsupport oftheplate and extendedadjacent to the dispenslng means, and an abutment rotatable with thedispensing means I adapted to engage the cam arm and move the V p plateagainst theaction of its spring away 7 coin to drop to the coin seat. 7

V Signed in the city, county and State of 7 from the chute wall torelease andpermit the New York, this 28th day of May, 1931.

s FORTUNATO BRANIGA].

